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RELEASE: Washington State Democratic Party Condemns Muslim Detention

January 28, 2017

Washington State Democratic Party Condemns Muslim Detention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2017

Upon the detention of Muslim residents, immigrants, and refugees at airports across the United States today, including up to 13 people at Sea-Tac Airport, the Washington State Democratic Party swiftly passed a resolution condemning the detention and targeting of Muslim travelers and the Donald Trump executive order of January 27th that led to the detentions.

The executive order, which explicitly targets refugees, immigrants, and residents of and from Muslim countries, is already leading to unconstitutional detentions and major consequences for those who are detained or denied entry to the country.

The executive order was halted by an emergency stay granted by the court of the Eastern District of New York – those currently detained on U.S. soil would be released, but the order would continue to block new people affected from coming to America.

“America was built on the values of charity for those who need our help and open doors for those fleeing violence and terror,” said Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski. “To lock up people coming to America for an election, who are their family and their loved ones, who would face death in their home country, is disgusting. Trump’s terrible and clearly unconstitutional order betrays our values and does more harm to our country than any terrorist could do.”

Podlodowski hailed the news that Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced their intention to use legal action to hold the federal government accountable in response to Trump’s order.

According to media reports, those blocked from entry to the country include translators who worked with American soldiers in Iraq, refugees fleeing violence, students coming to American universities, and people with legal status in the country coming to their family.

Trump had proposed a ban on Muslim immigration during the presidential campaign – at the time, it was denounced by many Republican elected officials.

The resolution further called on the state Legislature and Congressional delegation to work to enact legislation to condemn and overturn the Trump executive order.

The resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 27, 2017, has banned travel from seven countries based solely on the fact of having a Muslim majority; and

WHEREAS, the practical result of this Executive Order is to ban all refugees for a period of 90 days and all Syrian refugees for a period of 120 days; and

WHEREAS, legal permanent residents and green card holders are being illegally being detained at airports and denied entrance to the United States; and

WHEREAS, persons seeking asylum and refugee status whom have gone through proper US and international procedure and law have been denied refugee status;

WHEREAS, the denial of entry to the US can mean certain death of refugees if they are forced back to their home countries;

WHEREAS, the rejection of refugees to the United States in the 1930s and 1940s, resulted in the death of hundreds of religious minorities;

WHEREAS, Governor Jay Inslee has publically stated that the State of Washington will support and welcome Syrian refugees; and

WHEREAS, the WSDCC Platform for 2016 declares opposition to “Policies that exclude or demean immigrants based on religion or country of origin”;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, call for the State Legislature to immediately pass legislation expressing support for the admittance of refugees who have obtained legal permission and face threats to their lives if forced to return to their countries of origin and not enter the United States;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request that our elected representatives to enact legislation condemning the Executive Order, signed by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we urge the State Legislature to enact legislation pursuant to the sovereignty granted in the United States Constitution allowing for refugees to peacefully reside within and immigrate to the State of Washington.

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